St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-09
RETRIBU ITO n.
BY "THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER XIV.

Lazy AdlNVtblt piNio"A1SAA. w. HA~
drops into a chair, and receives with
thankful smile her late but ever welcome
cup of tea.
'sSuch crush! Such an abnormal
Temperature! Talk of lndia!'
She signs mildly, as all fat women
sigh. The concert had indeed been over
crowded, as the diva was to sing.
II hate the ultra fashionable concerts
saws her sister-in- law, Mrs. Brand, who
is feeling slightly fractions. 1.-The Others
are nearly, if not quite, as good, and
there is the advantage of finding ones
self alive after them; but this afternoon!
To look at the Duchess of Downshire
was to guess the rest. Poor woman! she
grew 80 flushed, SO heavy, toward the
end, that I wonder the chair didn't give
way under her.
''Whcre is Millicent?' asks Lady
Valworth, rather inconsequently.
sIn her boudoir with Miss Roche.
AIRS. Brands tone is slightly sharp II
asked Brown as l came in, and he told
me So.'
Chow did she spend her day.
ssWith some people rather out of my
set. though in specially good one-lf
rather dull one-of their own. You re-
member the Durans old Fanny Duran
more particularly? She is keeping house
for her nephew now
ssMaurce Duran, who lost his wife
some wears ~, A silly little woman
with q temper as | remember her. A
daughter of Lo, AShborough ).
ayes. Tia ife was insupportable to
a degree Well-he lives with his aunt
now And what on earth Alllllcent could
see in Fanny Duran to make her mss
to-day's concert is more than can con-
ceiye: sometimes that girl worries me
beyond belief" ;,
1WeI. I think it was very nice of her. ="
returns Lady Valworth pleasantly.
.sFew girls nowadays would give even a
thought to an old woman like fanny
Yes. it was kind of her"
She taps her spoon softly against the
edge of her cup, and tells herself that this
niece Of hers-so soon to be her daughter
in-law-is indeed treasure to be desired.
Il dare say you are right, she says.
tAnd as to Nadine Roche, that little
friend of hers have wanted to say q
word to YOU about her for some time.
She is such sweet girl-so gentle, so
thoroughly bred-but poor, you know.
Her father, Gen. Roche, died suddenly,
and there was no provision for the family
a very usual thing with military men
and 80 the poor child has to give lessons
to exc out the slender income that she
and her mother possess
"A sad story-but hardly an uncom-
mon one You suggested that L could
help her-that you wished to enlist my
sympathies with regard to her, but as
yet hardly see how l can be OF use. Ii
money!
'.Ohi no. Nothing at all of that sort.
But of late it has seemed to me that
she is looking pale; and, now that the
season is drawing to close, and Mill
cent and are to go to you to the PARK,
I think it would be very good OF you II
sou would ask the poor child there, TOO,
If only to give her breath of fresh air.
She is looking really i'll, it strikes me,
and, if you could put her up for bit,
know it would delight Millicent. :"
'Why, of course-of course says
kindly Lady Valworth. Anything to
please dear Millicent; and, besides, all
YOU have said about Miss Roche quite in
tereSts me-
..She is well worth your interest" be-
gins Mrs. Brand warmly, when foot
steps on the landing outside check her.
"Ah. here she comes, probably. Now
you will be able to see for yourself what
a remarkably charming creature she Is. "
The door, opening, admits the two
girls. Millicent smiling, and little mis-
chievous perhaps, as sort OF armol
against the scolding impending. Nadine
calm and gentle as usual Lady NalWorth
as she takes her hand, holds it kindly
and gazes long into the girls lovely face
Her blue eyes, innocent as summer
sky. her soft waving hair. tie charm o.
her mobile mouth all make deep I'M
preston upon the mother OF Grant
Boyle.
s'Mrs. Brand tells me you are looking
pale, my DEAR" she begins, drawing TIT
girl down upon the seat near her; tina
London smoke has robbed you OF all yonl
pretty roses. / cannot speak from m!
own. experience, of course, as this Is th'
first time we have MT, but it seems II
me that a pretty child like you should
not have such sorrowful eyes.
Nadine laughs a little, but the tear
rise as she does 80 to the ''sorrowfu
eyes"
"Are you strong-are you well?' goe
on Lady valworth, still keeping posses
sion of the girls hand.
81 think so. You are very good. T'
trouble yourself at all about me is yer,
kind And indeed there is nothing tn
matter with me-except-except tina
sometimes feel little tired. "
HTired All! yes, see. Well, ther
is a little scheme afloat about you. /
tiny conspiracy, let me tell you: Hay
you ever heard of valworth Park? Yes
It is very pretty place, | will allow, an
one calculated to brin back the blushe
to ,ale cheeks, touching Madness fac
az she speaks "Well What do yo1
think of our scheme9 Will you like t
come to me to the park for week
twos''
"To go to the country-to see again tn
green fields--the trees-the flowers
br 4thes Nadine family.
And more than that" laughs Lad
yalworth payly. s.You shall not be lei
to the lambs for company. Millicen
is coming to me. too, and good man
Others. Some friends OF yours. MI
Duran and his little Clytie, for example
Where are the pale cheeks now, tn
YYn1sf %pI apn